Key-holding device for organs



(no mmexj, G ELLY KEY HOLDING DEVICE FOR ORG-ANS.

No. 361,949. Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

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N PETERS Phnlo Li|hog r. Washinglon. D ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. KELLY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

KEY-HOLDING DEVICE FOR ORGANS.

ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,949, dated April 26. 1887.

Application filed J one 29, 1885. Serial No. 170,093. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern,-

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Organs; and I do hereby-declare that the same are fully described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide for organs a device for prolonging the sound of a given note after the players finger is removed from the key, and to furnish a convenient at-' tachment by which said device may be thrown into and out of action while the players hands are otherwise occupied.

My invention consists in a series of depending hooks fixed rigidly beneath the several keys,in combination with apivoted and springpressed bar or frame adapted-to engage automatically and successively with said hooks.

It also consists in the various devices and combinations of devices set forth in the appended claims. I

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa transverse section of the key-board, showing one of the hooks engaged with the bar to hold the corresponding key'down. Fig. 2 is a front'view of a portion of the instrument. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective.

A represents the keys, and B the hooks secured thereto and extending downwardly therefrom.

C is a movable bar or frame, preferably pivoted in a bracket, 1), at each end of the keyboard, as shown at E, so that its beveled lip or edge 0 may in, one position engage with any one of the hooks B, and in its other position will not so engage. The object of this engagement of one key at a time is to cause the note corresponding thereto to be sounded during such period of time as the organist desires; and it is obvious that the movement of the bar 0, or of an equivalent device, may be effected in various ways, such as sliding in grooves or ways with a spring to give a yielding action.

I furnish the frame or bar 0 with a light spring, G, which will permit said bar to yield on its pivot when, by pressure of the players finger on one of the keys, the beveled face of one of the hooks B is forced down past the lip c of the bar, said spring then causing such lip to engage with the hook, and thus to hold the key down until another key of the same bank is struck, releasing the first hook and engaging another.

The drawings represent a wire torsionspring, having one end inserted in the pivoted bar 0, and the other in its bracket so as to have the proper tension. The bar has an arm, H, provided with an adj usting-screw, J, with a terminal pad, I, by which devices the movement of the bar 0 on its pivot may be checked at the proper point.

I provide aslide, S, which may be worked to right or left by the players knees, and for this purpose I furnish a knee-piece, K, attached to the slide and projecting downward midway between the pivoted pedals P. This slide has an upright arm, M, controlling in any convenient way the frame or bar 0, so that in one position the lip cis held out of contact with the hooks B, and in the other it may engage with them. The arrangement shown in the drawings I find to work satisfactorily. A spring, N, of greater power than the spring G,is secured beneath the cross-piece O, and bears down upon apart, 0, of the pivoted frame or bar G to throw the lip 0 out of range of thehooks B. There is a stud roller, Q, at the upper end of the arm M of the slide, whichstud extends under the spring N, and gradually lifts its free end. off from the frame 0, when the slide is moved to the left, so as to leave the frame free to rise under the action of the light spring G, and to be moved by contact of the bevel-hooks with the lip c, as already stated. WVhen the slide is moved again to the right, the spring N is released and again tilts the frame 0 out of reach of the books. The hooks are arranged in a straight line, and

are preferably secured each to its key by a screw, 1), passed through a slot formed parallel to the key in the body of the hook, so that the hooks may be adjusted toward and from the provide a spring-catch, XV, which holds the pivoted part of the knee'piece in each of its two positions.

I claim as my invention- 1. In an organ, the keys A, eaeh provided with a depending hook, l3, fixed rigidly beneath it, in combination with a spring-actuated pivoted bar or frame,G,adapted to engage snecessively and automatically with said hooks B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an organ, the keys A and adjustable slotted hooks B, in combination with a movable bar or frame and with a spring permitting said bar or frame to yield to pressure applied to the keys, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of keys A, hooks l3, and movable bar or frame 0, with a spring, G, and an adjustingscrew, J, substantially as set forth.

4-. The combination of keys A, hooks I3, and

spring-pressed bar or frame 0, with a slide adapted to move said bar or frame into or out of engagement with said hooks, and provided with a folding knee-piece, K, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of keys A, hooks B, and movable bar or frame 0, with a slide adapted to engage or disengage said parts, and with a folding kneepiece located midway between the pedals I, to come between and be operated by the knees of the player, or to turn up out of the way, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signaturcin presence of two witnesses.

GEO. B. KELLY.

XVitnesses:

A. H. Sermons, G 111011012 S. LI'r'rL'nFr ELI). 

